The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-12
il0uuat and t.uaya.


Mr.. Van F.pps Howard, in a communi-
cation To- the Eustis Lake Region. says:
My attention has been called to a
fruit that seems to me to- he capable of
being made as profitable for export as
any other. | allude To tine Medlar. com
monty called the Japan plum-Ery both-
RIGA JdpoHicd." Loquat is better
Named Dispatch.
The cultivation of this fruit Is rather
more easy than the orange. IL seems to-
have no enemies like scale. etc. Is not
susceptible to common frosts any more
than the orange. Easy of cultivation
and transportation, it would have no
formidable competitor but the orange
and strawberry. The plum may be-
raised and marketed at much less cost
than the berry. and will bring, on ac-
count of its rarity. even more. For cook
ing preserves, pies and table use. they
are equal to if not superior To- either.
The trees will stand 100 To the acre. These
ought not tO net less than fifty quarts to
the tree. and sell at from twenty-five to-
fifty cents per quart or from - To Sl6
per bushei, or ON rough estimate $500
to- $1,000 Well. even $500 per acre Is a
pretty good return. The shade IL So
dense that no weeds will grow under the
trees, rendering cultivation almost nom
inal, hOeinG aupertiuous. Look into
this. fruit growers.
The same writer, speaking of the
guaVa, says:
There are two things necessary to
render the cultivation of the guava pro
fitahIe. First. to render il sure crop:
next. to- provide means of utilizing the
fruit aside from fresh consumption As
the fruit would come in competition
with the profusion of Northern fruit
with the disadvantage of distance from
market, sending it North is out of the
question, l suppose. But preserved,
jeliied. canned or dried a
large market might he found that
would draw off our surplus for some
time The next thing is for some in
dividual or company to guarantee To
take all that are offered at a certain
price The gUava yields so profusely
that it can be grown for a low price if
that be assured. Next. to insure n
crop, it will be practical to set three
or four posts about six feet high. and
rails across the top. covered by almost
anvthing-grass, straw. branches. etc
The writer here refers to the neceS-
sity of protecting the plants to carry
them through average winters without
damage, in the latitude of Eustis. This
is practical ON a small scale. although
nothing short of - earthing up viii
save them in unusually cold seasons.
Ii will scarcely pay To do this in
growing the fruit for commercial pur-
poses, though the superior excellence
of the fruit. taking the place of the.
apple more nearly than any other fruit
we have in Florida, will well repay the
| effort to obtain fruit consumption The.
hardy varieties or species (the Chinese
| and Cattley) should he planted for mar
ket in the northern half of the peninsula.
| In the extreme South the common guava
| can he protitably raised for the purpose
| of making Jelly and conserves. The
writer continues: When we consider
! that a guava bush will yield "A bushel or
two, if well cultivated, and they can be
| put five or six hundred to an acre. that
! they have no insect enemies. 1t will lie
| probable that they may be- Il great crop
| for export and home consumption. The
| Jelly has worldwide fame and brings a
high price. The canned and candietl
| guava are equally as delicious and should
| be known rs widely